Jonas Jerebko‘s defense and versatility are benefiting the Celtics even though his minutes are down from last season, as Chris Forsberg of ESPNBoston.com examines. The Celtics re-signed Jerebko this summer on a two-year, $10MM deal.
“If you’ve got guys that can guard multiple positions, especially that can swing from the perimeter to the bigs, and vice versa, it’s huge,” coach Brad Stevens said. “Especially the way the game is being played with so many skilled 4s and so many shooting bigs.”
See more from the Atlantic Division:
- Sixers coach Brett Brown came from a Spurs team that seamlessly adapted to the small-ball era, but with Jahlil Okafor and Nerlens Noel on Philadelphia’s roster, and Joel Embiid if he ever returns to health, Brown believes the Sixers can win with multiple bigs, as Ian Thomsen of NBA.com details. “I think it is relevant,” Brown said of the rise of small-ball. “But trends don’t necessarily mean that’s the correct path with respective teams. The path that Golden State went on catered to their strengths first. For me it always gets down to, how do you get your best players on the court? The trend we’re talking about with small ball is true, but I don’t see it being the answer, that it’s the only way.”
- Carmelo Anthony‘s increased assist production is an indication that of his faith in the roster that Knicks team president Phil Jackson built around him, posits Ian Begley of ESPNNewYork.com.
- Luis Scola‘s addition of a corner 3-pointer to his game is setting him apart from Patrick Patterson, whom Scola beat out for the starting power forward job on the Raptors, observes Ryan Wolstat of the Toronto Sun.